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One of the best westerns in history.

The movie High Noon is a film about being torn between duty and love and standing up for what you believe in, even when everyone else abandons you. The tension builds, leading up to the final gun battle — the quintessential mano-a-mano showdown that historians say rarely actually happened in the Old West, but has become an indelible part of popular culture.

Historical timeline of the development of modern weapons starting at 1364 with the first recorded use of a firearm and ending in 1892 with the introduction of automatic handguns.

​​Before the matchlock, guns were fired by holding a burning wick to a "touch hole" in the barrel igniting the powder inside. A shooter uses one hand for firing, and a prop to steady the gun.The first device, or "lock," for mechanically firing a gun is the matchlock. Powder is held in a "flash pan," and ignited by a wick, or match, in a movable clamp. Both hands remain on the gun, vastly improving aim. Early matchlock guns are extremely rare. The matchlock shown here was made around 1640, and is typical of the muskets used by militia in Colonial America.

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Fascinating Knives from World History...

Wrist knives are used by the Turkana people of Africa. Those Turkana who follow the indigenous religion believe that all domesticated animals, such as cows, are theirs by divine right. Many other nearby tribes believe the very same thing, which has led to an endless cycle of cattle raids and border conflicts. The Turkana people in particular carried out a continuous campaign to expand their territory. As such, they valued martial prowess, and men carried an abundance of weapons including spears, shields, finger knives, and wrist knives.

What is your gun worth?

​One of the most frequent questions we receive is someone asking what their gun is, or what it's worth. Check out the NRA Museum's tips on how to identify your gun and find out what it might be worth.